KEY ACTION Council is determined to continue its efforts to clean up the village, and that includes yards, dilapidated homes and garages, and junk vehicles and old tires.

DISCUSSION Council member Greg DiDonato said the village needs to devise a record system to continue to track problem areas.

DiDonato said currently a log or record isn't kept on each property regarding when clean-up notices are given by the Police Department. Follow-up is needed to make sure the properties get cleaned up.

"We need progress reports on these properties," said DiDonato. "We need to have a record of where each property is located. Sometimes we bark too much at them. We are not supposed to keep giving them warnings. Tires, yards that look like jungles, race cars. We need to monitor these things and make sure they are done."

Council member Michael Walker said there shouldn't be multiple warnings. There should be a warning and then citations and court charges, he said.

"But it just repeats," said Councilwoman Patricia Johnson. "I know of a home that the garbage and stuff piles up and the police tell them to clean it up. And they make an attempt and burn a bunch of stuff but pretty soon, it's all piling up again."

It was agreed that the Safety Committee will meet with the police chief and the mayor to set up procedures to follow in the future.

In another matter, Walker expressed concern about the large number of railroad cars traveling through the village carrying crude oil. The railroad will be asked to let the village know when dangerous materials will be transported through the village.

Council unanimously agreed to hire Doug White as the new street superintendent. Council also agreed to advertise for a new street laborer and machine operator. The combined position will require a CDL license. Deadline to submit applications is Jan. 31. The position will pay $12.74 per hour.

OTHER ACTION

• Heard that someone is interested in opening a combined pizza and beauty shop in the village. DiDonato suggested a proposal regarding the joint operation be presented to council since a zoning variance probably will be needed.

• Agreed to hire Stephen Sherf to prepare the feasibility study for the new hotel that is planned for the village.

• Decided to seek estimates to repair or replace the roof on the municipal building.

• Learned that a resident was paid by the insurance company for loss due to a structure fire. The property has not been cleaned up and is a hazard. The owner was given 30 days to remove the structure or the village will clean it up and bill the resident. Insurance funds were supposed to come directly to the village, but the village did not have an escrow account set up. It will do that in the near future to prepare for similar incidents.